Method of using a device to lift, move and flip foods

ABSTRACT

Double hooked device with the hooks being transversely positioned on the end of a shaft having a handle at its opposite end. The hooks may snag, lift, move and/or flip food or other articles by the hooks being rotated generally about the shaft&#39;s axis until one of the double hooks penetrates into the article to be lifted. A shield at the base of the handle is a guard to cover the tips of the hooks.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention is directed to a device to lift, move and flipover foods.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Many devices are available today to lift, move and flip over foods.Among the most common are spatulas. Cooking tongs are also commonlyfound in kitchens and are used for lifting and flipping foods,particularly thicker foods such as steaks and hamburgers.

A device which offers significant improvements over both these earliercategories of food lifting and flipping devices is illustrated in U.S.Pat. Nos. 5,896,668, 5,813,120, 3,162,475, 4,734,984, 2,604,350,1,202,120. The device is simply a transverse pointed hook on one end ofa shaft. The opposite end of the shaft has a handle. By rotating thishook about the shaft axis, the user can pierce the food, and thereafterlift, move and/or flip the food over in a similar manner to that shownin FIGS. 15 and 16 attached hereto. FIGS. 1 to 3 attached hereto show anexample of this device.

All kinds of foods may be lifted and flipped using this deviceincluding: meats, vegetables, fowl, hamburgers, fruits, breads, bakedgoods and much more. The device, however, has several shortcomings.First, the hook curves in only one direction. This favors right handedusers to the disadvantage of left handed users or vise versa. This alsomeans that it is easier to lift foods that are close to one side of afry pan or other walled cooking vessel, verses foods that are close tothe pan's or vessel's opposite side wall. The same is true when liftingfoods from jars or other confined locations.

U.S. Design Pat. Des. 268,561 shows an artistic design improvement overearlier art with two hooks at the end of a shaft, each hook the mirrorimage of the other, and each hook being transverse to the shaft. FIGS. 4to 6 attached hereto illustrate this device.

It would be helpful to have a device incorporating the ease of use andversatility of this hooked device with the versatility of a device whichcould be used easily by both right and left handed users as well as adevice which could maneuver to pick up foods in all corners of pots andpans. Also, it might be helpful to have a device which would resisttearing of foods. Ease of construction to lower production costs wouldalso benefit this category of device. As an example, it might reducemanufacturing costs if the device could be stamped from sheet stainlesssteel instead or requiring expensive welding and forming. Also, becausethese devices may be used near splattering hot grease and oil, as wellas near burners and flame, means of protecting users from burns andgetting dirty would be advantageous.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 a perspective view of a prior art device;

FIG. 2 is an end view of the device of FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a partial side view of the device of FIG. 1;

FIG. 4 is an end view of a prior art device of FIG. 6;

FIG. 5 is a partial side view of the prior art device of FIG. 6;

FIG. 6 is a perspective view of a second prior art device;

FIG. 7 is an end view of a first embodiment food grabbing device of thepresent invention;

FIG. 8 is a partial side view of the device of FIG. 7;

FIG. 9 is a cross-sectional view taken along line 52 of FIG. 7;

FIG. 10 is a perspective view of the first embodiment cooking device ofthe present invention;

FIG. 11 is a perspective view of a second embodiment food grabbingdevice of the present invention;

FIG. 12 is a perspective view of a third embodiment food grabbing deviceof the present invention;

FIG. 13 is a perspective view of a fourth embodiment food grabbingdevice of the present invention;

FIG. 14 is a perspective view of a fifth embodiment food grabbing deviceof the present invention;

FIG. 15 is a perspective view of the food grabbing device of the presentinvention in use;

FIG. 16 is a further perspective view of the food grabbing device of thepresent invention in use;

FIG. 17 is a perspective view of the food grabbing device of FIG. 14 inuse;

FIG. 18 is an end view of a sixth embodiment food grabbing device of thepresent invention;

FIG. 19 is a partial side view of the food grabbing device of FIG. 18;

FIG. 20 is a cross-sectional view taken along line 34 of FIG. 18;

FIG. 21 is a perspective view of the sixth embodiment food grabbingdevice;

FIG. 22 is a side view of a seventh embodiment food grabbing device ofthe present invention;

FIG. 23 is a top view of the food grabbing device of FIG. 22;

FIG. 24 is a cross-sectional view taken along line 24 of FIG. 22;

FIG. 25A is a cross-sectional view taken along line 25 of FIG. 22wherein a shield is not engaged with the device;

FIG. 25B is a cross-sectional view taken along line 25 of FIG. 22wherein the shield is engaged with the device;

FIG. 25C is a cross-sectional view taken along line 25 of FIG. 22wherein the device is rotated;

FIG. 26 is an end view of the device of FIG. 22;

FIG. 27 is a perspective view of the device of FIG. 22 including aguard; and

FIG. 28 is a cross-sectional view of the guard of FIG. 27 attached tothe device.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

FIGS. 1-3 illustrate a typical prior art device showing transversepointed hook 20 on the end of shaft 22 which has handle 24 affixed toits other end. Arrows 26 and 28 indicate the orthogonal directions ofview for FIGS. 2 and 3 respectively.

FIG. 4 also illustrates a prior art device found in U.S. Design Pat.Des. 268,561. Transverse pointed hooks 34 and 36 are shown. FIG. 5illustrates transverse pointed hook 36 and one end of shaft 38. FIG. 6illustrates handle 40 with elements 34, 36, 38 and viewpoints 30 and 32described earlier.

FIG. 7 illustrates a first embodiment food grabbing hook device of thepresent invention with left transverse pointed hook 42 and righttransverse pointed hook 44 shown. Bend 50 at end of shaft 46 is alsoshown along with section arrow 53 indicating the view shown in FIG. 9.FIG. 8 is a broken-out side view of the embodiment shown in FIG. 7showing right transverse pointed hook 44 and bend 50 at the end of shaft46 as well as one end of shaft 46.

FIG. 9 is a section view as indicated by section arrow 52 in FIG. 7. Theelliptical cross section with a wide aspect ratio of overone-and-one-half times the width relative to one times the depth, isdifferent from the circular cross section suggested in prior art, andreduces the tendency of food to tear when hooked. In general, a wideaspect ratio, particularly one greater than one-and-one-half to one,regardless of cross section (e.g. rectangular, curved square,trapezoidal, etc.) reduces the likelihood of tearing hooked foods.

FIG. 10 is a perspective view of the embodiment illustrated in FIGS. 7,8 and 9. This view shows handle 48 as well as elements 42, 44, 56 and 50described earlier. By bending shaft 46 at its end, and attachingtransverse pointed hooks 42 and 44 at the end of the bend, a simpleflick of handle 48 is magnified by the extension of the bend, thusreducing the workload needed to hook foods. Also, when compared to theprior art illustrated in FIGS. 4, 5 and 6, cleaning is simplified by nothaving tapered crotch 35 where foods may collect.

FIG. 11 shows a perspective view of a second embodiment device of thepresent invention which may have shaft 56 and integral transversepointed hooks 58 and 60 stamped from sheet material such as stainlesssteel before being inserted into handle 62. Such manufacturing is easierthan the forming suggested by the prior art. Hooks 58 and 60, unlike thefirst embodiment hooks 42 and 44, have their bases emanate in line witheach other and on plane with shaft 56, which may also help make themeasier to manufacture, and may require less hand turning about the axisof shaft 56 to hook into foods to be lifted or moved. This simplergeometry may also make cleaning easier as well. Angular edges, such as61, may also aid in the embodiment being used to scrape grills or cleanother surfaces.

FIG. 12 shows a perspective view of a third embodiment which has abent-fork-like arrangement 63 for linking transverse pointed hooks 64and 66. This bent-fork-like arrangement may make viewing foods beinghooked easier, and also may have advantages in simplifying cleansing,both because food doesn't have a tendency to touch the back of the fork,and because all surfaces are generally easy to reach and clean, with fewnooks or crannies.

FIG. 12 further shows a handle 67 which may be stamped concurrently withthe rest of the embodiment out of a single sheet of material, such asstainless steel, thus further simplifying construction and furtherreducing manufacturing costs. Because it lacks crevices where piecesmeet, this embodiment is easier to clean than embodiments assembled fromtwo or more separate pieces. Likewise, fewer pieces generally mean astronger, more robust construction which has less chance of breakageduring use. And the flat wide handle illustrated in FIG. 12 may offergood leverage in gripping, lifting, rotating and flipping foods.

FIG. 13 shows a fourth embodiment with transverse pointed hooks 68 and70 and shaft extension pointed hook 72. Hook 72 allows foods to bestabbed and lifted in a similar manner to using a conventional fork, butwith improved results due to the curvature and compactness of hook 72.As a first example, foods may have less of a tendency to fall off theend of hook 72 once grabbed due to the curvature in the hook. Likeearlier hooks described in FIGS. 7 to 10, shaft extension hook 72 may beflattened in cross section, as shown in FIG. 9, with an elliptical,rectangular or other cross section, and with a flattened aspect ratio,which is particularly advantageous if its width exceeded its depth by afactor of at least one-and-one-half times. As a second example, hook 72may be able to fit into, and grab objects in, a jar which a fork may betoo large for. Again a wide aspect ratio in cross section of hook 72,particularly one wider than 1.5 to 1 at right angles to the plane of thecurve of hook 72, may help reduce the tendency of foods being hooked totear because for any given size of hole a point might make in snaggingthe food or other object, a larger percentage of the perimeter of thehole will be closer to right angles to the direction of lift or movementthan if the hole were circular (i.e.: have an even or 1 to 1 aspectratio).

FIG. 13 shows depressions 85 and 87 in handle 76 which help the user toorient the embodiment through tactile sensation for proper use. Likewisea single or multiple depressions or projections on or proximate to thehandle might provide similar advantages for helping the user to orientthe embodiment for proper use through tactile sensation.

FIG. 13 also shows shield 74 mounted to the lower end of handle 76.Shield 74 helps prevent user burns, discomfort and/or cleaning problemsfrom using the fourth embodiment near or around: splattering grease, hotwater, steam, burners, flames, or other sources of heat or soilage.Shield 74 may be permanently mounted or may be removable. As an exampleit may be removable by sliding it over handle 76 or down shaft 78 andover hooks 68 and 70. Shield 74, if removable, might snap into anannular groove in the handle, in the same manner as a garment snap, suchas used on blue jeans. Slots emanating from the center hole of shield 74may be needed to help this sliding and removal. As a second example, itmay be secured in a friction fit onto a cylindrical section of thehandle. This may be done by hand, without use of tools.

Shield 74 is illustrated with hinges 80, 82, 84 and 86, and bends 88 and89 in its face. Shown in solid lines, the open position of shield 74utilizes molded-in bends 88 and 89 to stiffen and open shield 74 whenshielding is desired. When a more compact geometry is desired, such aswhen the fourth embodiment is being stored, the top and bottom of shield74 may be folded back as shown in the dotted lines in FIG. 13, usinghinges 80, 82, 84 and 86. Alternatively, shield 74 may be turned around180 degrees and its top and bottom folded forward to achieve its morecompact geometry. Folding shield 74 forward may make it easier to usethe fourth embodiment when shield 74 is not open.

Shield 74 may be opaque, or as an alternate, may be, as illustrated inFIG. 13, translucent, even to the point of transparency, to help inseeing objects being hooked. As an example, shield 74 may be molded fromtranslucent polypropylene which may: resist grease damage, resist heat,allow for molded in bends such as bends 88 and 89, and permit “living”hinges such as 80, 82, 84 and 86. Shield 74 may likely be adapted to fitmost prior art or any of the preferred embodiments illustrated herein.

FIG. 14 shows a fifth embodiment with transverse pointed hooks 90 and92. These hooks instead of being arcuate as in the other preferredembodiments shown earlier are essentially pointed straight rods withrespective bends 94 and 96 to angle their points. This bending may beeasier to manufacture, and may hook and lift as well or better, thanarcuate designs.

Shaft extension pointed hook 98 is also illustrated in FIG. 14, butunlike shaft extension pointed hook 72 illustrated in the fourthembodiment, hook 72 curves upward. This may make hook 72 easier to usewithout a need to invert the fifth embodiment to use hook 72. Hook 72,as all hooks described herein, may be elliptical, rectangular,trapezoidal or other shape in cross section, and may benefit from across section width of at least one-and-one-half times its cross sectiondepth for reasons explained earlier.

FIG. 14 also illustrates shield 100 which may serve the same functionsas shield 74. Shield 100 slides over shaft 102 and onto the forward endof handle 104. Shield 100 does not need to flex. This means shield 100can be made in one piece from rigid materials, as examples from acrylic,polypropylene, SAN, or polycarbonate. Shield 100 may be slid off forstorage or when not needed as shown by the dotted lines in FIG. 14.Again, shield 100 can snap into an annular groove in handle 104 or shaft102 for mounting, or may be held by a fit coupled by friction. Slot 103allows the user to insert shield 100 onto shaft 102 without going overhooks 90 and 92. Slot 103 may also provide the springiness to the holein the center of shield 100 to help it snap into an annular groove on,or mount by friction to, handle 104 or shaft 102. Dimples, holes orother irregularities may be substituted to snap onto and hold eithershield 74 or 100.

All of the embodiments illustrated herein may also likely be used forother purposes. As examples, they may be used to push foods around in afry pan, or stir foods in water or boiling water, or move foods in awok, or flatten bacon in a fry pan, or pierce plastic packaging to easeopening, or scrape soilage off grills, or pierce foods to help spicesand/or marinades penetrate the foods, or lift non-food objects such ascloth or paper or other things, or grab objects such as a fishermangrabbing a fish hooked on his line or a rope on a dock, or to help liftdebris, or help grab trash from the ground or elsewhere, etc.

Also, features of each embodiment may be adapted to fit otherembodiments. As examples, hooks 42, 44, 68, 70, 72, 90 and 92 shown inthe figures may be done by stamping the design from sheet material assuggested in the second and third embodiments. This might result in thehooks being generally rectangular in cross-section. Likewise, shield 74and shield 100 might each be interchanged with the other, or might beeach individually adapted to fit onto any of the other embodiments. Orbent hooks 90 and 92 might replace any of the arcuate hooks; or any ofthe handles shown on the embodiments might be interchanged, etc.

FIGS. 15 and 16 show how a typical embodiment might be used. A usergrabs typical handle 106 and rotates 108 the handle about the axis oftypical shaft 110 so that typical transverse pointed hook 112 penetratesinto typical item 114 to be grabbed. FIG. 16 shows typical item 114after it has been grabbed and is started to be lifted. Mirror imagingFIGS. 15 and 16 will show how a left handed person might gain advantageover prior art using the same embodiments. That is, the embodimentsillustrated are equally easy to use for both right and left handedindividuals. Likewise, the typical embodiment may be rotated in adirection opposite 108, hooking typical transverse pointed hook 116 intoitem 114. This versatility may make the embodiment flexible in use,particularly in restricted or confined areas such as cooking vessel likefry pans, particularly small fry pans, as examples, and jars, likepickle and olive jars as examples.

FIG. 17 shows how an embodiment, such as shown in FIG. 14 as an example,having a third hook extending from the end of shaft, might pickup foodusing the third hook. Typical third hook 118 is simply thrust forward120, causing it to penetrate article to be lifted 114 where thereafterarticle 114 may be lifted.

FIG. 18 shows a sixth embodiment with transverse pointed hooks 124 and126 separated at their base by angle 128 which is at least 30 degreesand may be as much as 180 degrees. The viewpoint of FIG. 18 is indicatedby arrow 134 in FIG. 21. Angle 128 in FIG. 18, when compared to theprior art illustrated in FIGS. 4 to 6 which have transverse pointedhooks 34 and 36 which are conjoined at their base, may require lesshandle rotation in either direction to snag foods and other articles. Asan example, if angle 128 is 30 degrees, and the hooks on both the priorart and the sixth embodiment share the same geometry, then the sixthembodiment should require 30 degrees less rotation than the prior artbetween picking up food using clockwise shaft 130 rotation and pickingit up using counterclockwise shaft 130 rotation. This may make the sixthembodiment significantly easier to use than the cited prior art.

The sixth embodiment shows elliptical handle 136 which may provide, whencompared to a cylindrical handle, tactile orientation for the embodimentas well as a comfortable grip with good leverage for lifting andflipping articles.

FIG. 19 is a side view of the sixth embodiment as indicated by arrow 130in FIG. 21. FIG. 20 is a section view of the sixth embodiment asindicated by section arrow 132 in FIG. 18. Again, the cross sectionshows a flattened aspect ratio of at least 1.5 to 1.

Referring to FIGS. 22 to 27, and moving from left to right in FIGS. 22,23 and 27, a seventh embodiment is illustrated which comprises: handlecap 216 which mounts on the rear end of handle 200. Handle cap 216includes hole 218 used for hanging or for other purposes.

On the opposite end of handle 200 from cap 216 is shield mount 220 whichremoveably mounts polygonal shield 204. Extending from the forward 226end of shield mount 220 is shaft support 224 which securely holds shaft222 and rigidly attaches it to handle 200. On the opposite end of shaft222 from shaft support 224 is tapered portion 225 of shaft 222.Generally, shaft 222 is consistently cylindrical except for taperedportion 225.

Tapered portion 225 on the forward 226 end of shaft 222 firmly attacheshooks 206 and 208 to shaft 222.

Referring to FIG. 23, when viewed from above, the seventh embodiment isgenerally symmetrical side 228 to side 230. Shield 204 may be removedfrom shield mount 220 and may be securely remounted in any of severalrotary positions at the user's discretion.

When resting on a countertop or other surface, flats 232 (seen on FIGS.25A to 27) on the periphery of shield 204 help prevent the embodimentfrom rolling or moving uncontrollably when placed on a surface. Further,shield 204 may be constructed of material which allows shield 204 to belooked through. This would mean shield 204 could provide protectionwithout significantly hindering the user's vision. Also shield 204 canbe removed from the rest of the embodiment for storage so it will stowmore compactly, or so the embodiment may be used without the shieldwhere protection is not necessary or perhaps not desired, or removed forother purposes.

In use, the embodiment may be stored in a drawer or cabinet or othersuitable location, or it may be hung perhaps using hole 218 in handlecap 216 either directly such as on a post or nail or the like; or usinga string or other filament secured through hole 213. Shield 204 may beremoved for compactness or other purposes during storage, or it may beleft on.

Referring to FIGS. 22, 23, 25, 26 and 27, when mounted, shield 204 issecured between forward flange 232 and rear flange 234 of shield mount220. Core 236 extends between and connects rear flange 234 with forwardflange 232. Core 236 is gear shaped in cross section with an essentiallycircular sinusoidal periphery. Specifically, core 236 has eight curvedgear teeth 238 regularly protruding from its periphery.

As shown in FIGS. 25B and 25C, gear teeth 238 engage detents 240 nearthe center of shield 204 when shield 204 is mounted to shield mount 220.This results in shield 204 being secured in one of eight radialpositions each 45 degrees separated from the next.

Each of these eight positions corresponds to one of the eight flats 232on the periphery of shield 204 resulting in flats 232 of shield 204always having a specific predictable radial relationship between flats232 and hooks 206 and 208 no matter how the user mounts shield 204. Thispredictability may make it easier to use the refined embodiment. Asshown in FIG. 26 each of these eight positions allows the embodiment torest with the tips of hooks 206 and 208 approximately equidistance froma countertop such as 252 in FIG. 25C.

Mounting shield 204 is accomplished by the user sliding shield 204between rear flange 234 and forward flange 232 as shown in FIGS. 25A and25B. Shield 204 is a regular octagon with slot 242 interrupting one ofits eight flat sides 232. Slot 242 allows shield 204 to slide ontoshield mount 220 by straddling core 236. As shown in FIGS. 25A and 25B,resilient snap slots 244 and 246 help allow protrusions 248 and 250 tosnap over and engage core 236.

Shield 204 may protect user from heat, hot oil, hot water, hazardouschemicals, or other materials and/or conditions. The embodiment may beused with or without shield 204 mounted. Shield 204 may be constructedin any of many different materials and using any of many differentmanufacturing processes. As examples; shield 204 may be constructed ofclear, natural or pigmented: polypropylene, polyethylene, ABS, acrylic,nylon, SAN, PBT other plastic; or stainless steel, steel, aluminum, orother metal, or ceramic, or other material. It may be manufactured by:injection molding, stamping, laser cutting or other manufacturingprocess.

For example, injection molding shield 204 from clear polypropylene mayhave several advantages which may include one or more of the following:low cost (due to inexpensive production methods, low material costs andfast molding cycle times), high production rates, relatively inexpensivetooling, resistance to grease, oil, other chemicals and detergents, highand low temperature resistance, long material life, dishwasher safe,translucence, simple and low cost to mold in other features such asgraphics, text, clips brackets etc.

Hooks 206 and 208 are essentially circular arcs as demonstrated bydotted line circle 264 in FIG. 26. Each hook, 206 and 208, is formedalong a plane which when viewed from the side, as in FIG. 22, tiltsforward from the end of shaft 222 in angle 266. Likewise these planesalong which hooks 206 and 208 are formed, when viewed from the top, asin FIG. 23, tilt in generally symmetrical angle 214 forward from the endof shaft 222.

Angle 266 is measured in side view FIG. 22 from the axis of shaft 222 tothe joint line between the planes containing hooks 206 and 208. Angle214 is measured in top view FIG. 23 from a horizontal plane extendingfrom the axis of shaft 222, to the lines where this horizontal planemeets the planes containing hooks 206 and 208. Efficiency in coupling,uncoupling and moving food and other articles using the embodiment hasbeen found when angle 266 is between 54 and 76 degrees, and, angle 214is between 123 and 147 degrees.

When angle 266 is less than 54 degrees food or other artless tend tounscrew off the hook particularly when used in jars and deep pans. Whenangle 266 is greater than 76 degrees the point where hooks 206 and 208meet shaft 222 tends to protrude and interfere with foods and otherarticles being hooked. Similarly, when angle 214 is less than 123degrees, it tends to let food and other articles slip off of hooks 206and 208 particularly when shaft 222 is in a more vertical position. Andwhen angle 214 is greater than 147 degrees it becomes more difficult tohook foods and other articles because the joint between hooks 206 and208 and shaft 222, bumps against the foods or articles before they arefully engaged with hooks 206 or 208.

FIG. 26 shows a front view of the embodiment with general symmetrybetween left 256 and right 258. Food or other articles are picked up ormoved by the embodiment as described above with hook 206 or hook 208piercing the article, and handle 200 being rotated clockwise 260 orcounterclockwise 262 to engage the article. The article is then liftedor moved as desired after which the embodiment is disengaged from thearticle by rotating handle 200 counter clockwise 262 or clockwise 260 toseparate hook 206 or hook 208 from the article.

Angle 254 in top view FIG. 26, extends from the axis of shaft 222 to thetips of hooks 206 and 208. To engage foods and other articles mostefficiently, angle 254 should be between 149 degrees and 166 degrees.Greater than 166 degrees causes an undesired tendency for the hook notengaging the article to engage the article when the refined embodimentis rotated to disengage the article. If angle 254 is less than 149degrees, it may be difficult or uncomfortable without repositioning theuser's hand grip on handle 200, to engage articles by rotating therefined embodiment counterclockwise 260 and alternately counterclockwise262.

The dimension from tip of hook 206 to the tip of hook 208 has been foundto be particularly important in achieving generally comfortable and easyuse of the embodiment. On embodiments that will be used in a homekitchen, a distance between 1⅜ and 1¾ inches between the tip of hook 206and the tip of hook 208 has been found to be particularly convenient foruse with fry pans of 7 to 14 inches in diameter, and in common jars, andwith Tupperware® type containers, and with 6 to 10 inch diameter pots,as well as with other common kitchen items. Smaller hooks tend toprovide insufficient grip on common articles, and larger hooks tend tobe too clumsy within or around the above items.

In commercial kitchens and for outdoor barbeques, a distance between 2¼inches and 2¾ inches from the tip of hook 206 to the tip of hook 208 hasbeen found best for general use. This is because pots and pans andstorage containers and other items used in these environments tend to belarger than those used in home kitchens, and also because food itemshandled may also be larger. Space in general in these environments tendsto be less cramped than in home kitchens.

Engaging food and other articles by rotating the refined embodimentclockwise 260 or counterclockwise 262 using the same hand withoutrepositioning the hand, may be one of the advantages of using theembodiment. Likewise, using the embodiment in either a user's left orright hand can be yet another advantage. Also, being able to use theembodiment in confined situations such as near or against the left orright side of a pan or near or against the left or right side of a jaris yet another advantage.

As shown in FIGS. 22 to 24, handle 200 is essentially an elliptical rodon its exterior. This shape allows easy and effective grip with adequateleverage for lifting and flipping while still allowing easyrepositioning of the user's hand to accommodate various use conditionsincluding near vertical use of the embodiment in jars and cups, and nearhorizontal use on grills and shallow pans and a full range of useconditions between the vertical and horizontal.

Although the handle may be constructed at any size, a length of 3½inches to 4¾ inches has been found to be particularly advantageous forboth users with relatively small and large hands. Likewise, a handleelliptical cross section having a minor axis dimension between ½ inchand ¾ inch and having a major axis dimension between ⅝ inch and one inchhas also been found to be particularly useful in providing users withboth relatively small and large hands with an effective and comfortablegrip.

Three particular lengths have been found particularly useful infabricating the embodiment. For an embodiment used in home kitchens withpots, pans, jars, stove top grills, fry pans, countertop grills, plasticstorage ware, sinks, storage bins, etc., a length of between 9 and 11inches measured from where shaft 222 exits shaft support 224 to the tipof hook 206 has been found exceptionally convenient. For an embodimentused in commercial kitchens with larger pots, pans, jars, grills, frypans, plastic storage containers, sinks, storage bins, etc., a length ofbetween 15 and 17 inches measured from where shaft 222 exits shaftsupport 224 to the tip of hook 206 has likewise been found exceptionallyconvenient. And finally, for an embodiment used with outdoor barbeques,a length of between 20 and 22 inches measured from where shaft 222 exitsshaft support 224 to the tip of hook 206 has similarly been foundexceptionally convenient.

The ends of hooks 206 and 208 are sharp to facilitate penetrating meats,vegetables and other materials. To prevent possible accidental injuries,a protective cover to shield the ends of hooks 206 and 208 may be used.Many designs may provide effective protection including pockets orenvelopes to cover the hook ends or tubes which might cover the entirehook end of the refined embodiment.

One design which may provide both relatively easy use and goodprotection is shown in FIGS. 27 and 28. Guard 268 snaps on to and off ofshaft 222. Guard 268, when snapped onto shaft 222, may also slidelongitudinally 278 along shaft 222. When in retracted position 270,guard 268 does not interfere with the operation of the embodiment. Whenguard 268 is pushed forward to protective position 272 indicated indotted lines in FIG. 27, protrusions 276 snap onto the conjoined base ofhooks 206 and 208, holding guard 268 in protective position 272 wherebarriers 274 cover the tips of hooks 206 and 208 to prevent accidents.

Guard 268 may be left at all times on shaft 222 including during use andstorage, or it may be removed for any reason. Using guard 268 when it isattached to shaft 222 simply entails sliding guard 268 between retractedposition 270 when not in use, to protective position 272 to cover thetips of hooks 206 and 208.

Finger grip 277 helps provide a grip for retracting guard 268 fromprotective position 272 to retracted position 270. FIG. 28 illustrateshow guard 268 may snap onto shaft 222. Guard 268 may be constructed ofany of many different materials. These include plastics such aspolypropylene, polyethylene, styrene, acrylic, SAN, PBT, nylon, ABS,etc.; metals including stainless steel, steel, aluminum, copper, etc.,ceramics, and other materials. Many different manufacturing processesmay be used to produce guard 268. These include injection molding, diestamping, die casting, etc. As an example, guard 268 may be injectionmolded from translucent or pigmented polypropylene. This provides:grease and chemical resistance, heat and cold resistance, low cost, highpotential manufacturing rates, relatively inexpensive tooling as well asother advantages.

One skilled in the art would readily recognize that many variationsfrom, and alternatives to, the above could be made and still utilize thepresent inventions. As just a few illustrative examples: shield 204 mayhave fewer or more than 8 flats on its periphery and they may be regularas in a pentagon, hexagon or square etc. or they may be irregular oreven have curves or voids or concave or convex sections between flats onthe shield periphery; the engagement between shield 204 may rely onsomething other than a snap fit with fixed radial resting points such asa friction fit between shield 204 and front flange 232 and rear flange234 (a fit relying primarily on friction) or a friction fit betweenshield 204 and core 236, or a snap fit between shield 204 and frontflange 232 and rear flange 234, or shield 204 might slide over core 236with core 236 being hexagonal, octagonal or other shape rather than gearshaped; There may be more than hooks 206 and 208 at the end of shaft 222such as was suggested in the antecedent to this application; dimensionsother than those suggested herein may be advantageously used,particularly where a more focused and less general use is intended suchas shaft 222 having a length of less than 9 inches and a distance ofless than 1⅜ inches between the tips of hooks 206 and 208 in a deviceintended exclusively or primarily for removing items from jars; theremay be a hook or hole 218 combined with a hook or detent or other deviceon the end of handle 200 to hang or store the embodiment; handle 200might be round or square or triangular or other shape in cross section,or might be tear shaped, spherical, or other shape in general; shaft 222might be elliptical, square, triangular, polygonal or irregular in crosssection; the embodiment might be used for other purposes such as pickingup trash or harvesting fruits from tree limbs or material handling infactories etc.; materials and fabrication methods other than thosesuggested might be used such as laying up shaft 222 out of carbon fibercomposites or compression molding handle 200 from a thermo set resin;etc.

Embodiments incorporating the present inventions may be constructed atany scale and from a variety of materials. As examples, embodiments fromsix to twenty-four inches in length may be constructed with shortedlengths useful in home kitchens with typical home range tops. Longerlengths might be used for outdoor barbequing where there is more heatand more possibility of getting burnt or injured and where food itemsmay be larger. Even larger versions still, such as twenty-four tothirty-six inches in length, might be used for picking up debris or usewhile fishing.

Materials used in construction may likewise vary widely. As examples,stainless steel or ceramics or composites or plastic or wood might beused to form some or all of the embodiments.

What is described and illustrated herein are preferred embodiments ofthe present inventions. Many variations of, alternatives to, and/ormodifications of these embodiments, which incorporate some or all of thepresent inventions, will be obvious to those knowledgeable of the art.Thus the scope of patent protection afforded the present inventionsshall thus solely be determined by the issued claims this specificationis allowed as well as their legal equivalents, and not restricted by thelimited descriptions of preferred embodiments contained herein.

1. A method to lift foods using a device having: a handle, opposingfirst and second pointed hooks, and a shaft connecting the opposingfirst and second pointed hooks to the handle, with the axis of the shaftbeing mainly transverse to the general plane of the opposing hooks, andthe method comprising the steps of: grasping the handle and rotating thehooks in a predetermined direction generally about the axis of the shaftuntil a first of the hooks penetrates into the food to be lifted;lifting the food using the engagement of the first hook penetrating thefood; and disengaging the first hook from the food by rotating the firsthook generally about the axis of the shaft, in a direction opposite thepredetermined direction, until the first hook disengages the food. 2.The method of claim 1 further including the steps of: engaging thesecond hook into food to be lifted by rotating the hooks in a directionopposite the predetermined direction until the second hook penetratesinto the food to be lifted; lifting the food using the engagement of thesecond hook penetrating the food to be lifted; and disengaging thesecond hook from the food to be lifted by rotating the second hookgenerally about the axis of the shaft, in the original predetermineddirection, until the second hook disengages the food to be lifted. 3.The method of claim 1 further including the steps of: grasping thehandle using an opposite hand and rotating the hooks generally about theaxis of the shaft until one of the hooks penetrates the food to belifted; and lifting the food to be lifted using the penetration of ahook into the food to be lifted.
 4. A method to lift foods from acooking vessel having generally vertical perimeter walls using a devicehaving: a handle, opposing first and second pointed hooks, and a shaftconnecting the opposing first and second pointed hooks to the handle,with the axis of the shaft being mainly transverse to the general planeof the opposing hooks, and the method comprising the steps of: a userhand grasping the handle and placing the hooks in a first preferredlocation next to the perimeter wall of a cooking vessel; the user thenrotating the hooks in a first predetermined direction generally aboutthe axis of the shaft until a first of the hooks penetrates into food tobe lifted; the user then lifting the food using the engagement of thefirst hook penetrating the food; the user disengaging the first hookfrom the food by rotating the first hook generally about the axis of theshaft, in a second predetermined direction opposite the firstpredetermined direction, until the first hook disengages the food; theuser grasping the handle and placing the hooks in a second preferredlocation next to the perimeter wall of the cooking vessel with thesecond preferred location being generally on the opposite side of thecooking vessel from the first preferred location; the user then rotatingthe hooks in the second predetermined direction opposite the firstpredetermined direction, generally about the axis of the shaft, untilthe second pointed hook penetrates into food to be lifted; the user thenlifting the food using the engagement of the second hook penetrating thefood; and the user disengaging the second hook from the food by rotatingthe second hook generally about the axis of the shaft, in the originalpredetermined direction, until the second hook disengages the food. 5.The method of claim 4 further restricted by the cooking vessel being afry pan.
 6. The method of claim 5 further restricted by the food to belifted being meat.
 7. The method of claim 6 further restricted by themeat being bacon.
 8. The method of claim 4 where the cooking vessel is acooking pot filled with water and the food to be lifted is corn on thecob.
 9. A method to lift foods from a jar using a device having ahandle, opposing first and second pointed hooks, and a shaft connectingthe opposing first and second pointed hooks to the handle, with the axisof the shaft being mainly transverse to the general plane of theopposing hooks comprising the steps of: a user hand grasping the handleand placing the hooks in a first preferred location next to oneperimeter wall of the jar; the user then rotating the hooks in a firstpredetermined direction generally about the axis of the shaft until afirst of the hooks penetrates into food to be lifted; the user thenlifting the food using the engagement of the first hook penetrating thefood; the user disengaging the first hook from the food by rotating thefirst hook generally about the axis of the shaft, in a secondpredetermined direction opposite the first predetermined direction,until the first hook disengages the food; the user grasping the handleand placing the hooks in a second preferred location next to a secondperimeter wall of the jar with the second preferred location beinggenerally on the opposite side of the jar from the first preferredlocation; the user then rotating the hooks in the second predetermineddirection opposite the first predetermined direction, generally aboutthe axis of the shaft, until the second pointed hook penetrates intofood to be lifted; the user then lifting the food using the engagementof the second hook penetrating the food; and the user disengaging thesecond hook from the food by rotating the second hook generally aboutthe axis of the shaft, in the original predetermined direction, untilthe second hook disengages the food.
 10. The method of claim 9 whereinthe food to be lifted is pickles.
 11. The method of claim 9 wherein thefood to be lifted is olives.
 12. A device for snagging food comprising:a handle; a shaft extending from the handle; an upward bend at the endof the shaft opposite the handle; and a bent downward double pointed rodlinked crosswise generally at its center to the end of the upward bentend of the shaft.
 13. The device of claim 12 having a third pointed rodextending from the end of the shaft opposite the handle.
 14. The deviceof claim 13 where the third pointed rod bends upward.
 15. The device ofclaim 13 wherein the third pointed rod extends away from the handlebeyond the double pointed rod.
 16. The device of claim 12 where there isa shield between end of the handle furthest from the double pointed rodand the double pointed rod.
 17. The device of claim 12 where thecross-section of the double pointed rod is wider than it is thick. 18.The device of claim 17 where the cross-section of the double pointed rodis at least twice as wide as it is thick.
 19. The device of claim 17where the cross-section is generally elliptical.
 20. The device of claim12 where the cross-section of the double pointed rod is generallyrectangular.
 21. The device of claim 12 where the double pointed rod isbent downward in an arc.
 22. A device to lift foods comprising: ahandle; a shaft extending from the handle; a first pointed hook linkedto the end of the shaft opposite the handle; and a shield mountedbetween the end of the handle furthest away from the hook and the hook.23. The device of claim 22 where the shield is essentially flat andgenerally transverse to the shaft.
 24. The device of claim 22 where theshield is essentially round.
 25. The device of claim 22 where the shieldis translucent.
 26. The device of claim 22 where the shield can bemanually removed from the shaft, handle, and first hook, without use oftools.
 27. The device of claim 22 where the first hook is generallytransverse to the shaft.
 28. The device of claim 22 where there is asecond pointed hook linked to the same end of the shaft as the firstpointed hook.
 29. The device of claim 28 where there is a third pointedhook linked to the same end of the shaft as the first pointed hook. 30.The device of claim 22 where the shield can fold.
 31. A device to liftand move foods and other articles comprising: a rod having at one end ahook transverse to a rod axis and the rod having at an opposite end ahandle with a gripping section; and a shield located between the hookand the gripping section.
 32. The device of claim 31 wherein there is asecond hook essentially mirror imaging the first hook.
 33. The device ofclaim 31 wherein there is a mount and the shield attaches to the mount.34. The device of claim 33 wherein the shield is removable from themount.
 35. The device of claim 33 wherein the shield engages the mountusing a snap fit.
 36. The device of claim 31 wherein there are aplurality of shield mounting positions.
 37. The device of claim 31wherein the shield is translucent.
 38. The device of claim 31 whereinthe shield is essentially planar.
 39. The device of claim 31 wherein theshield is transverse to the axis of the rod.
 40. The device of claim 31wherein the shield is located between the terminus of the rod oppositethe hook and where the handle is gripped.
 41. The device of claim 31wherein there is a section on a periphery of the shield where two spacedapart points can touch a flat surface when the device is placed on aflat surface.
 42. The device of claim 41 wherein the periphery of theshield is polygonal.
 43. The device of claim 42 wherein the periphery ofthe shield is octagonal.
 44. The device of claim 43 wherein the shieldcan be attached in eight positions.
 45. The device of claim 31 whereinthere is a slot extending from the periphery of the shield to itsinterior.
 46. The device of claim 45 wherein there is a mount to attachthe shield and the slot straddles the rod while attaching the shield tothe mount.
 47. A method of protecting a user of a device having a hookto lift and move food and other articles, with the device having a hookattached to one end of a rod and a handle attached to an opposite end ofthe rod and a removable shield, and the method comprising the steps of:linking the shield to the rod; engaging the hook with the food or otherarticle; lifting and moving the food or other article; disengaging thehook from the food or other article; and separating the shield from therod.
 48. The method of claim 17 further including a final step ofplacing both the shield and rod in a storage area.